3355. In the internal sense 'an earthquake' is an alteration of the state of the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'the earth' as the Church, dealt with in 566, 662, 1066, 1068, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 2928, and from the meaning of 'a quake' as an alteration of state, here an alteration as regards the things that constitute the Church, namely good and truth. This is also evident from other places in the Word, as in Isaiah,

It will happen, that he who is fleeing from the sound of the terror will fall into the pit, and he who is climbing out of the middle of the pit will be caught in the snare, for the floodgates from on high have been opened and the foundations of the earth have been made to tremble, the earth has been utterly shattered. The earth has been made to quake thoroughly, the earth staggers like a drunken man, it sways to and fro like a hut, and heavy upon it is its transgression, and it will fall and not rise again. And it will be on that day, that Jehovah will visit the host of the height on high and the kings of the ground on the ground. Isaiah 24:18-21.

Here it is quite evident that 'the earth' is the Church, for the subject is a Church whose 'foundations' are said to 'have been made to tremble', while the Church itself, having been 'shattered' and 'made to quake', 'staggers' and 'sways to and fro' when good and truth are not known any longer. 'The kings of the ground' are truths, in this case falsities, upon which visitation will take place. As regards 'kings' meaning truths and in the contrary sense falsities, see 1672, 2015, and as regards 'the ground' being similar in meaning to 'the earth', namely the Church, though there is a difference, see 566, 1068.

[2] In the same prophet,

I will make a man (homo) more rare than pure gold, and a man (homo) than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make heaven quake and the earth will quake out of its place, at the wrath of Jehovah Zebaoth and in the day of His fierce anger. Isaiah 13:12-13.

Here also, the subject being Judgement Day, 'the earth' plainly stands for the Church which is said to 'quake out of its place' when it undergoes a change of state - 'place' meaning state, see 1273-1275, 1377, 2625, 2837. In the same prophet,

Is this the man who, making the earth quake, making the kingdoms quake, makes the world into a wilderness and destroys its cities? Isaiah 14:16-17.

This refers to Lucifer. 'The earth' stands for the Church, which is said 'to quake' when it lays claim to all things as its own. For 'kingdoms' means the truths accepted by the Church, see 1672, 2547.

[3] In Ezekiel,

It will be on that day, that Gog will come over the land of Israel. My wrath will come up in My anger and in My zeal. In the fire of My wrath I will say, Surely on that day there will be a great earthquake on Israel's ground. Ezekiel 38:18-20.

'Gog' stands for external worship that has been separated from internal and so made idolatrous, 1151. 'Israel's land' or 'ground' stands for the spiritual Church, 'an earthquake' for an alteration of its state. In Joel,

The earth quaked before Him, the heavens trembled. The sun and the moon were darkened, and the stars withdrew their shining. Joel 2:10.

This also refers to Judgement Day. 'The earth quaked' stands for an altered state of the Church, 'the sun and moon' for the good of love and the truth of faith, 1529, 1530, 2441, 2495, which are said to be 'darkened' when goods and truths are not acknowledged any longer. 'The stars' stands for cognitions of good and truth, 2495, 2849. In David,

The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook and trembled because He was angered. Psalms 18:6-7.

'The earth trembled and quaked' stands for the Church when its state has become perverted.

[4] In John,

When he opened the sixth seal I looked again, and behold, a great earthquake took place, and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon became like blood, and the stars in the sky fell to the earth. Revelation 6:12-13.

Here 'an earthquake', 'the sun', 'the moon', and 'the stars' have a similar meaning to that which they have above in Joel. In the same book,

At that hour a great earthquake took place, and a tenth part of the city fell, and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand people. ¹ Revelation 11:13.

From all these places it is evident that 'an earthquake' means nothing other than an alteration of the state of the Church, and that 'the earth' has no other meaning in the internal sense than the Church. And since 'the earth' is the Church it is clear that 'the new heaven and the new earth' which are to take the place of the previous heaven and earth, Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21:1, means nothing other than a new Church, internal and external, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end).

Poznámky pod čarou:

155. And ministry and faith, signifies good and truth therein. This is evident from the signification of "ministry," as being good (of which presently); and from the signification of "faith," as being truth. Faith signifies truth, because truth is of faith, and faith is of truth. "Ministry" signifies good, because in the Word "ministry" is predicated of good. For this reason the function of Aaron, of his sons, and of the Levites, and the priestly function in general, was called a "ministry." For the same reason, "ministering" to Jehovah, or to the Lord, means to worship Him from the good of love. From this it is clear that "ministry" has reference to works, and "faith" to charity, of which just above, where it is said, "I know thy works and charity," for faith and charity make one, since where there is no charity there is no faith (See The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 108-122; and the small work on The Last Judgment 33-40).

[2] That "ministry" and "ministering" in the Word are predicated of the good of love can be seen from the following passages. In David:

Jehovah maketh His angels spirits, His ministers a flaming fire (Psalms 104:4).

Jehovah's "making His angels spirits" means that they are recipients of Divine truth (See above, n. 130). "Making His ministers a flaming fire" means that they are recipients of Divine good for "flaming fire" signifies the good of love (See above, n. 68). From this it is clear that by "ministers" those who are in the good of love are meant.

[3] In the same:

Bless Jehovah, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His that do His will (Psalms 103:21).

Those are called "hosts of Jehovah" who are in truths (See n. 3448, 7236, 7988, 8019), and "ministers" those who are in goods; therefore it is said, "that do His will." Doing the Lord's will is acting from the good of love; for all good has reference to the will, as all truth has to the understanding.

[4] In Isaiah:

Ye shall be called the priests of Jehovah, the ministers of our God (Isaiah 61:6).

Priests are called "ministers" because they represented the Lord in respect to the good of love; those, therefore, who are in the good of love are called "priests" in the Word (See Arcana Coelestia 2015, 6148, 9809, 10017); and for the same reason they are called "ministers of God." On this account the function of Aaron and of his sons is called "a ministry;" also the function of the Levite priests; and entering into the tent of meeting and officiating in the ministry there, also approaching the altar and officiating in the ministry there, is called "ministering" (See Exodus 28:35; 30:20; Numbers 8:15, 19, 24-26).

And in Jeremiah:

Then shall My covenant become void with the Levites the priests, My ministers (Jeremiah 33:21).

(That Aaron represented the Lord in respect to the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 9806, 9946, 10017; likewise priests in general, n. 2015, 6148 consequently by "priesthood" in the Word the Divine good of the Lord's Divine love is signified, n. 9806, 9809)

[5] There are two kingdoms into which the whole heaven is divided, in one of which are the angels who are in the good of celestial love, in the other the angels who are in the good of spiritual love, or in charity. The Lord's celestial kingdom is called His "priesthood," the spiritual kingdom His "royalty" (See in the work on Heaven and Hell, n. 24, 226). "Ministry" is predicated of those in the celestial kingdom, and "service" of those in the spiritual kingdom. From this it is clear what is meant in the following passages by "ministering" and "minister," and by "serving" and "servant":

Jesus said to the disciples, Whosoever would be great let him be your minister; and whosoever would be first, let him be your servant; as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (Matthew 20:26-28; 23:11-12; Mark 9:35; Luke 22:24-27).

Jesus said, If any man will minister to Me let him follow Me; then where I am, there shall also My minister be; yea, if any man will minister to Me, him will My Father honor (John 12:26).

Jesus said, Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching; I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to recline to eat, and He will come forth and minister to them (Luke 12:37).

In Isaiah:

The sons of the alien that conjoin themselves to Jehovah to minister to Him, and to love the name of Jehovah (Isaiah 56:6).

Because "ministering" is predicated of the good of love, "the sons of the alien" are said "to minister to Jehovah," and "to love Him;" and of the Lord Himself it is said that "He would minister." From all this it can now be seen that by "ministry" is signified everything that is done from the good of love, thus the good of love.